Lawyer Gets Month In Jail For 4th Cocaine Conviction
MUSKEGON (WWJ/AP) - A high-profile attorney in west Michigan has been sentenced to one month in jail, five months of house arrest and four years of probation for his fourth cocaine conviction.
Terry Nolan, 55, was sentenced earlier this week in Muskegon County's 14th Circuit Court after pleaded guilty last month to cocaine use. He could have been sentenced to a maximum of two years in state prison.
Nolan, who will be allowed work release during his jail sentence, will be supervised by a probation officer during his probation and required to attend therapy and an addiction support group, and submit to random drug tests, The Muskegon Chronicle reported.
After his release, Nolan must spend five months wearing an electronic tether, confined to his home except while working.
Speaking to the judge before sentencing, Nolan apologized for his actions.
"I certainly don't intend to go out and hurt anyone, but I know that my relapse hurt people," Nolan said. "My biggest lapse was that I didn't avail myself of the tools (of recovery)."
Nolan's first conviction for cocaine use was in 1992, which earned him a 90-day suspended jail sentence. Ten years later, he was busted with crack cocaine and sentenced to two years probation. While still on probation in 2003, Nolan was arrested for cocaine possession and sentenced to six-months in jail.
Nolan lost his law license after his 2002 arrest, regaining it only in late 2009. A hearing has yet to be scheduled on whether Nolan's license will be suspended again.
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